The attacks at the Boston Marathon, and their aftermath, were the first topics discussed during the opening panel of the 2013 Sports Facilities and Franchises conference, being held at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge.

Arizona Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall, whose team is in town for a stand against the Yankees, said he noticed heightened security at last night’s game, but that it didn’t seem to create any issues for fans. Hall: "If it takes fans a few more seconds to get in, they know why. They're patient enough, and as long as they plan to get there early, they understand that it's for their best interest."

He added that the attacks were another reminder that “we can never let our guard down. It’s important that everybody feel safe. You can never do too much.”

Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black said that after the marathon, he didn’t need to set up a meeting with team security or ballpark operations staff because they rushed to him to talk about precautions and procedures. He also said he couldn’t talk about many of the security procedures that were being discussed or put into place. “There’s a lot going on underneath the surface,” Black said.

Hall recounted a similar experience with his staff, adding, "It's remarkable how sophisticated we are now with our staff. They come to me right away."